History of King Edward Medical University (KEMU) or King Edward Medical College KEMC, Lahore (Page 11)
There was a shortage of both senior and junior staff . Overwork and general dissatisfaction led to different sections of the educational system laying blame on each others doorstep. Teachers were overburdened with administrative duties. Thus officers from the armed forces, usually Lt. Colonels, were seconded to serve as administrators who were to be permanent secretaries of the Boards of Governors of various institutions. Lt. Col. Rafique Ahmed Khan was the first administrator of KEMC., appointed on the 3 March. 1959. His successor was Lt. Col. Nawab Khan.
On 7th • March, 1959, Lt. Co!. Illahi Bakhsh went on leave before retiring, and’ was succeeded by Dr. Riyaz-e-Qadeer as Principal, who was confirmed in this post in September, of the same year. The title of the post was changed to Chairman Academic Council in December, 1959.
Prof. Riaz-i-Qadeer
1959-1966
- New Ophthalmology Building
- New Kitchens
- Better X-ray machines
- Larger supply of X-ray films
- A second Medical Officer for Radio diagnosis and
Better maintenance of hospital record.
In 1960 there were 23 foreign students and 24 students from East Pakistan, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit and Baluchistan.
Tamgh-i-Pakistan was awarded in 1958 to Professors M.A. Prizada and Amir ud Din, the latter also being awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 1960.
Dr. Illahi Baksh had drafted his monumental work on Medicine while a prisoner of the Japanese. This was published shortly before his death in April 1960, while he was serving on the Medical Reforms Commission. In honour of his service to medical education and his association with this college for over a quarter of a century, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam in 1959, and the Punjab University decided to posthumously confer the degree of Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa upon him.
At the completion of its 100 years of existence, the college had a turn over of about a 100 students yearly, with 679 men and 55 women undergraduates on the rolls . The Mayo Hospital now held 800 beds and the lady Willingdon a 100. There were also 20 postgraduate students, including one lady. The exam: programme was revised by the University. The library had 16,173 books and a reading room. The 4 men and 1 women’s hostel housed 401 and 27 hostellers respectively, plus 9 postgraduate residents.
Primary FRCS examination was discontinued after trial because of too few students. Postgraduates took the MO/MS degrees though the courses of studies were not regularly conducted. New chairs were created in operative surgery, ENT, clinical Midwifery, Anaesthesia and Cardiology. New Departments established in Mayo Hospital, included Thoracic Surgery, Cardiology, Dermatology, Orthopedic and Pediatrics. The following new buildings were constructed: Out patients Department in Rattan bagh 50 bed Children Hospital. A wing of the A VH to house 32 patients Lahore General Hospital, Radium Institute
In its report on K.E. Medical College the Medical Reform Committee concluded as follows:-
“Despite the Fortuitousness which has often appeared to characterize its progress during the past century its achievement has been quite remarkable, especially in view of its narrow financial resources.”
The King Edward Medical College, Lahore remained for a long time the only institution of its kind in the Northern part of the subcontinent and during pre-independence period attracted students also from South East Asia, British Africa and even the West Indies. After independence it has served the needs not only of the country but also of the brotherly Muslim countries. The following countries have been sending their students for medical studies to the. College.’ Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Jordon, Bahrain, Malaysia, Iran , Kuwait, Syria, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, South Yemen, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, UAE. Nepal, Lebanon, Gambia, Kenya, Libya, Sweden, Britain, Afghanistan and Canada.
The King Edward Medical College has been actively engaged in postgraduate studies also and after 1960 emphasis was placed on postgraduate diploma courses leading to postgraduate qualifications. These courses and training programmes have lead to the following Diplomas.
M.D., MS, D.M.RE., DTC.D., D.L.O., D.A.M.S., DA, D.C.P. D.M.RT, D.M.RD., D.G.O., F.C.P.S. PART-I.
In addition a six months preparatory course for primary FRCS was also instituted in 1961. The course lasted for 4 years and out of a total of 211 candidates 81 passed the primary FRCS of the Royal College of Surgeons , England.
The courses were initially organized by the Professors from the Royal College of Surgeons, England, namely Professor RJ Last and Professor David salome, later on, however, these courses were fully conducted by the local staff comprising Professor Afzal, Alamdar Hussain, Lase, RK. Madan, Riayaz-e-Qadeer and Hameed Sheikh, Initially all the examiners came from England but later Professor Riayaz-e-Qadeer and Hameed Sheikh were appointed by the Royal College of Surgeons, England as examiners which was a unique honour for the King Edward Medical College.
The postgraduate examination of the Royal College of surgeons were abandoned when the Pakistan College of Physicians and Surgeons came into being now this college offers MCPS and FCPS Diplomas in most subjects as postgraduate qualifications. The diploma courses have been taken over by the postgraduate Medical Institute which was established at the King Edward Medical College campus in 1914 and was first of its kind in the Punjab. It is temporarily housed in the experimental medicine and animal house of King Edward Medical College, Lahore.
Professor of King Edward Medical College, Lahore extend full participation in the postgraduate courses conducted by the postgraduate Medical Institute . King Edward Medical College Alumni being spread far and wide both within the country and abroad., bringing a good name to their country and almamater as teacher of repute, scholars and Practitioners of the art of medicine. the senior teacher staff of the college willingly imparted postgraduate education at no cast basis in addition to the heavy undergraduate teaching duties without any extra remuneration. This act of dedication is indeed very commendable.
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